1 00:00:01,301 --> 00:00:03,335 - Female narrator: She was a beloved school teacher 2 00:00:03,371 --> 00:00:06,105 dedicated to her students. 3 00:00:06,140 --> 00:00:09,608 - This was a kindergarten teacher that was so well-loved. 4 00:00:09,643 --> 00:00:12,144 - I always told her she looked like snow white. 5 00:00:12,179 --> 00:00:16,315 - Narrator: But when gunshots ring out on a warm spring day, 6 00:00:16,350 --> 00:00:19,685 friends and family are left speechless. 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,522 - I was shocked. It didn't make any sense. 8 00:00:23,557 --> 00:00:26,525 - Narrator: Detectives learn this educator may have been 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:31,130 caught in the crossfire of a forbidden love affair. 10 00:00:31,165 --> 00:00:34,033 - Somebody had specifically targeted her. 11 00:00:37,004 --> 00:00:40,272 - Narrator: As police race to identify their shooter, 12 00:00:40,307 --> 00:00:44,176 they discover a string of lies, threats 13 00:00:44,211 --> 00:00:46,245 and a frightening ultimatum. 14 00:00:47,615 --> 00:00:50,249 - Eva: She started going through a divorce 15 00:00:50,284 --> 00:00:53,819 and people started seeing the change in her. 16 00:00:53,854 --> 00:00:57,256 - He portrayed her as a troublemaker that had to go. 17 00:00:57,291 --> 00:00:59,725 - Narrator: After years of tracking a killer, 18 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,129 a shocking development will finally reveal the truth. 19 00:01:04,165 --> 00:01:06,999 - It was the piece that the state needed in order to go 20 00:01:07,034 --> 00:01:09,134 forward on the case. 21 00:01:09,170 --> 00:01:12,237 - It just seems to tie everything together. 22 00:01:12,273 --> 00:01:16,508 - These two people had sociopathic tendencies. 23 00:01:16,544 --> 00:01:20,579 - She is sleeping with the devil and the devil has a mistress. 24 00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:29,421 - ♪ 25 00:01:30,458 --> 00:01:32,825 ♪ 26 00:01:35,830 --> 00:01:38,797 - narrator: May 26, 1993. 27 00:01:38,833 --> 00:01:43,035 It's 4 p.M. When 29-year-old jim guevara arrives 28 00:01:43,070 --> 00:01:45,904 at the san antonio, texas, apartment he shares 29 00:01:45,940 --> 00:01:50,776 with his wife, 32-year-old velia guevara. 30 00:01:50,811 --> 00:01:53,912 - He entered the apartment, uh, there was a hallway leading off 31 00:01:53,948 --> 00:01:55,881 toward a bedroom. 32 00:01:55,916 --> 00:02:00,352 - He calls for his wife and, uh, he doesn't hear anything. 33 00:02:00,387 --> 00:02:02,321 He goes to a couple different rooms. 34 00:02:02,356 --> 00:02:05,557 Then he encounters her body in a hall. 35 00:02:05,593 --> 00:02:07,893 - David: He saw velia on her back. 36 00:02:07,928 --> 00:02:11,563 She was unresponsive and stiff and pale. 37 00:02:11,599 --> 00:02:13,132 He called 911. 38 00:02:17,505 --> 00:02:20,239 - Narrator: As first responders arrive at the scene, 39 00:02:20,274 --> 00:02:22,875 shelley stelzer, an assistant apartment manager 40 00:02:22,910 --> 00:02:26,645 and friend of velia, is drawn outside. 41 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,347 - Shelley: There were fire trucks in front 42 00:02:28,382 --> 00:02:30,182 of velia's apartment. 43 00:02:30,217 --> 00:02:32,885 When my manager went to ask what had happened, 44 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:35,320 one of the firemen did tell her 45 00:02:35,356 --> 00:02:37,856 there was an accident or a heart attack. 46 00:02:38,926 --> 00:02:43,962 I was shocked. I-- it didn't make any sense. 47 00:02:43,998 --> 00:02:45,964 How could she have a heart attack when I just saw her 48 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,667 earlier that morning and she was fine? 49 00:02:53,674 --> 00:02:57,376 - Narrator: Velia acosta was born in san antonio, texas, 50 00:02:57,411 --> 00:03:00,812 on November 22, 1960. 51 00:03:00,848 --> 00:03:04,483 One of three girls, velia and her sisters were 52 00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:07,519 raised in a childhood steeped in faith. 53 00:03:07,555 --> 00:03:10,422 - We went to a really very small catholic girls' school 54 00:03:10,457 --> 00:03:11,857 called providence. 55 00:03:11,892 --> 00:03:14,960 You have to know that if parents take the effort 56 00:03:14,995 --> 00:03:18,630 and the time to send their kids to catholic schools, 57 00:03:18,666 --> 00:03:21,800 then you know that that plays a big part in their overall 58 00:03:21,835 --> 00:03:24,536 family life, the way they believe. 59 00:03:27,875 --> 00:03:29,508 - Narrator: Bright and beautiful, 60 00:03:29,543 --> 00:03:32,411 velia easily made friends. 61 00:03:32,446 --> 00:03:33,645 - Melisa: She was just lovely. 62 00:03:33,681 --> 00:03:35,547 That's the only way to describe 63 00:03:35,583 --> 00:03:38,350 the person that I remember. 64 00:03:38,385 --> 00:03:40,919 - Silvia: She was very lively and bubbly, and she had 65 00:03:40,955 --> 00:03:44,389 beautiful, fair skin and black hair. 66 00:03:44,425 --> 00:03:46,992 I always told her she looked like snow white. 67 00:03:47,027 --> 00:03:49,027 - Narrator: After graduating from high school, 68 00:03:49,063 --> 00:03:51,930 velia attended college where she earned a degree 69 00:03:51,966 --> 00:03:54,766 in education, eventually finding work 70 00:03:54,802 --> 00:03:57,369 as a kindergarten teacher. 71 00:03:57,404 --> 00:03:58,804 - Melisa: This was a kindergarten teacher 72 00:03:58,839 --> 00:04:00,505 that was so well-loved. 73 00:04:00,541 --> 00:04:03,342 And when you walk into school when you're five years old 74 00:04:03,377 --> 00:04:06,378 and you have your first teacher, and it's somebody 75 00:04:06,413 --> 00:04:09,514 who is as sweet and as caring and as gentle 76 00:04:09,550 --> 00:04:12,985 and soft-spoken as velia, think of what that does. 77 00:04:13,020 --> 00:04:17,356 It's a foundation for every other year after that. 78 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,660 - Narrator: Velia dreamed of having children of her own 79 00:04:21,695 --> 00:04:25,530 one day, and when she met handsome jim guevara, 80 00:04:25,566 --> 00:04:29,534 she thought that dream may come true. 81 00:04:29,570 --> 00:04:31,737 - Silvia: They had known each other for a little while. 82 00:04:31,772 --> 00:04:35,741 He thought she was so pretty, so he finally just kind of said, 83 00:04:35,776 --> 00:04:37,576 "you know, I really wanna go out with you." 84 00:04:37,611 --> 00:04:39,978 and they started going out and, uh, you know, 85 00:04:40,014 --> 00:04:41,880 they seemed really happy. 86 00:04:41,915 --> 00:04:43,982 - He was a very ambitious fellow. 87 00:04:44,018 --> 00:04:45,784 He wanted to move up in the world. 88 00:04:45,819 --> 00:04:49,121 He was always looking for ways to work contacts, 89 00:04:49,156 --> 00:04:52,557 to play the corporate game, so to speak. 90 00:04:52,593 --> 00:04:55,427 - Narrator: Jim worked for a prominent newspaper in town, 91 00:04:55,462 --> 00:04:57,562 "the san antonio light." 92 00:04:58,465 --> 00:04:59,431 - silvia: He was a very funny guy. 93 00:04:59,466 --> 00:05:03,602 He was very easygoing, and he was very nice. 94 00:05:03,637 --> 00:05:06,305 She loved him very much. 95 00:05:09,677 --> 00:05:12,778 - Narrator: In 1990, after a couple years of dating, 96 00:05:12,813 --> 00:05:15,447 jim popped the question. 97 00:05:15,482 --> 00:05:17,616 - Silvia: She was so happy when they got engaged. 98 00:05:17,651 --> 00:05:20,485 And when they got married, she was just elated. 99 00:05:20,521 --> 00:05:22,854 All I remember is her bringing the ring to church 100 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:25,023 at choir practice and showing everybody, 101 00:05:25,059 --> 00:05:26,792 and we're all very happy for her. 102 00:05:28,062 --> 00:05:31,630 - Narrator: For velia and jim, it was an exciting time. 103 00:05:31,665 --> 00:05:33,965 The newlyweds rented a charming apartment 104 00:05:34,001 --> 00:05:35,967 in downtown san antonio 105 00:05:36,003 --> 00:05:39,638 and began dreaming of starting a family. 106 00:05:39,673 --> 00:05:41,473 - Silvia: She wanted to have children. 107 00:05:41,508 --> 00:05:43,842 She was very much looking forward to becoming a mother. 108 00:05:47,014 --> 00:05:50,782 - Narrator: But becoming parents would have to wait. 109 00:05:50,818 --> 00:05:54,686 In early 1993, the newspaper jim worked for 110 00:05:54,722 --> 00:05:56,621 shut down. 111 00:05:56,657 --> 00:05:59,424 - Bill: We had two newspapers here in san antonio. 112 00:05:59,460 --> 00:06:01,727 He worked for the one that ended up getting essentially 113 00:06:01,762 --> 00:06:04,496 bought out, and so he was out of a job. 114 00:06:05,332 --> 00:06:07,299 - Silvia: I saw her every week, twice a week, you know. 115 00:06:07,334 --> 00:06:10,001 And out of the blue, she just started crying. 116 00:06:10,037 --> 00:06:14,139 Like just broke down in tears and just put her head on my lap 117 00:06:14,174 --> 00:06:18,577 and bawled her eyes out. And I was just--I was in shock. 118 00:06:18,612 --> 00:06:20,479 I didn't know what was going on. 119 00:06:20,514 --> 00:06:23,682 She was a private person and didn't wanna trouble people 120 00:06:23,717 --> 00:06:28,053 with problems, especially about marriage. 121 00:06:28,088 --> 00:06:30,355 But she was just very sad. It was really hard. 122 00:06:34,628 --> 00:06:37,529 - Narrator: However, jim felt confident that he would soon 123 00:06:37,564 --> 00:06:39,831 find new work, and the couple hoped 124 00:06:39,867 --> 00:06:43,168 that better days lay ahead. 125 00:06:43,203 --> 00:06:45,036 - Silvia: They were living in an apartment at the time, 126 00:06:45,072 --> 00:06:47,906 so I know they wanted to buy a house eventually. 127 00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:50,041 I know she wanted to have children. 128 00:06:52,946 --> 00:06:55,881 - Narrator: But on may 26, 1993, 129 00:06:55,916 --> 00:06:59,050 the couple's hopes for a bright future fade 130 00:06:59,086 --> 00:07:03,588 when jim finds velia unresponsive in their apartment. 131 00:07:03,624 --> 00:07:06,024 When first responders approach her body, 132 00:07:06,059 --> 00:07:11,062 they quickly realize it's much too late to help velia. 133 00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:14,199 - When her lifeless body was found there on the floor, 134 00:07:14,234 --> 00:07:18,203 and, uh, the ems check her out, there's an initial pronouncement 135 00:07:18,238 --> 00:07:20,372 of death right there at the scene. 136 00:07:20,407 --> 00:07:22,541 Velia was shot three times. 137 00:07:23,777 --> 00:07:26,178 She had to have been dead for several hours. 138 00:07:27,514 --> 00:07:31,082 - Narrator: It's clear this death was no accident. 139 00:07:31,118 --> 00:07:33,819 - When I arrived, I could see what appeared to be three 140 00:07:33,854 --> 00:07:37,389 gunshot wounds to the--uh, to the abdomen. 141 00:07:37,424 --> 00:07:41,026 I didn't see any kind of struggle at the scene, uh, 142 00:07:41,061 --> 00:07:47,032 so I suspected that velia maybe knew the person who shot her. 143 00:07:47,067 --> 00:07:49,935 We also suspected that maybe she had walked in 144 00:07:49,970 --> 00:07:53,138 and the person who shot and killed her had already, uh, 145 00:07:53,173 --> 00:07:56,775 been there, you know, basically waiting for her. 146 00:07:56,810 --> 00:08:00,145 There was not a lot of blood, which would indicate to me 147 00:08:00,180 --> 00:08:03,615 that she died very quickly after being shot. 148 00:08:03,650 --> 00:08:05,116 There were a lot of questions, obviously, 149 00:08:05,152 --> 00:08:07,319 from the initial crime scene. 150 00:08:07,354 --> 00:08:10,155 We wanted to know what would have led somebody 151 00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:12,057 to kill this young lady. 152 00:08:12,092 --> 00:08:13,925 - Silvia: I didn't know what could've happened. 153 00:08:13,961 --> 00:08:15,727 Who would want to murder her? 154 00:08:15,762 --> 00:08:17,863 I thought that had to do with, you know, 155 00:08:17,898 --> 00:08:20,265 a crime of passion maybe. 156 00:08:21,235 --> 00:08:24,102 - Narrator: Coming up, police attempt to piece together 157 00:08:24,137 --> 00:08:27,806 what happened inside the guevara home. 158 00:08:27,841 --> 00:08:31,710 - Whoever got in there just walked right in. 159 00:08:31,745 --> 00:08:33,111 - Narrator: And detectives track down 160 00:08:33,146 --> 00:08:36,014 their first suspects in the case. 161 00:08:36,049 --> 00:08:39,684 - My gut instincts was that the husband might be involved. 162 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,787 I asked if he was having any kind of affair. 163 00:08:42,823 --> 00:08:44,890 - Bill: She seemed to be kind of watching the building 164 00:08:44,925 --> 00:08:46,892 where velia's apartment was. 165 00:08:51,098 --> 00:08:53,865 - ♪ 166 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:05,677 - narrator: On may 26, 1993, san antonio police descend 167 00:09:05,712 --> 00:09:10,248 upon the apartment complex where 32-year-old velia guevara 168 00:09:10,284 --> 00:09:13,151 has just been found shot to death. 169 00:09:14,154 --> 00:09:16,421 - Bill: She was shot, I believe, three times, 170 00:09:16,456 --> 00:09:19,491 and she did have rigor mortis at the time, 171 00:09:19,526 --> 00:09:23,228 so she had been, uh, there for a while. 172 00:09:24,498 --> 00:09:26,731 - Narrator: After an initial examination of the scene 173 00:09:26,767 --> 00:09:30,268 inside the apartment, detective daniel gonzales 174 00:09:30,304 --> 00:09:34,606 moves outside to speak to velia's husband, jim guevara. 175 00:09:36,310 --> 00:09:38,376 - Bill: James was basically saying, 176 00:09:38,412 --> 00:09:39,744 "look we had no problems," 177 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:43,481 it was the standard happy couple story. 178 00:09:43,517 --> 00:09:45,016 - Daniel: My gut instincts was 179 00:09:45,052 --> 00:09:47,052 that the husband might be involved. 180 00:09:47,087 --> 00:09:49,821 He said he had come home from a day of playing golf 181 00:09:49,856 --> 00:09:53,758 and having found his door ajar, went inside and discovered 182 00:09:53,794 --> 00:09:56,027 that his wife had been shot and killed. 183 00:09:57,564 --> 00:09:59,664 We had to check it out, obviously. 184 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,567 It was something we-- we needed to look into. 185 00:10:04,671 --> 00:10:07,372 - Narrator: When a quick phone call confirms that jim 186 00:10:07,407 --> 00:10:10,008 was at the golf course earlier in the day, 187 00:10:10,043 --> 00:10:14,012 police ask him for other potential suspects. 188 00:10:14,047 --> 00:10:15,647 - Daniel: He said there were some problems 189 00:10:15,682 --> 00:10:19,351 in the apartment complex with-- uh, with burglaries. 190 00:10:21,121 --> 00:10:22,687 - Narrator: Operating on this tip, 191 00:10:22,723 --> 00:10:26,257 investigators survey the crime scene. 192 00:10:26,293 --> 00:10:28,259 - There was no sign of any kind of forced entry 193 00:10:28,295 --> 00:10:30,795 to the apartment, the door had not been pried, 194 00:10:30,831 --> 00:10:32,864 there were no windows broken. 195 00:10:32,899 --> 00:10:36,234 - Whoever got in there just walked right in. 196 00:10:36,269 --> 00:10:40,338 And they didn't find any valuables missing. 197 00:10:40,374 --> 00:10:42,407 - It didn't look like an apartment that had been 198 00:10:42,442 --> 00:10:44,509 the subject of a burglary or a robbery 199 00:10:44,544 --> 00:10:47,646 or anything of that type, so that immediately caused 200 00:10:47,681 --> 00:10:50,749 the police to believe that that is not what happened here. 201 00:10:54,888 --> 00:10:58,390 - Narrator: Detective gonzales and his team take a closer look 202 00:10:58,425 --> 00:10:59,691 at the victim. 203 00:10:59,726 --> 00:11:03,228 - The initial evidence that was obvious to us at the scene, 204 00:11:03,263 --> 00:11:04,095 there were two bullets recovered 205 00:11:04,131 --> 00:11:06,765 that had gone through velia's body. 206 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,700 She was shot three times. 207 00:11:08,735 --> 00:11:13,338 We also found a single 9mm shell casing near the body. 208 00:11:13,373 --> 00:11:15,707 It was on a couch nearby. 209 00:11:17,511 --> 00:11:19,544 - Narrator: Police fail to find the remaining 210 00:11:19,579 --> 00:11:23,214 two shell casings, but they do find ammunition 211 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:25,250 elsewhere in the home. 212 00:11:25,285 --> 00:11:29,387 - In a closet we found spent 9mm shell casings, 213 00:11:29,423 --> 00:11:32,123 casings that already been shot. 214 00:11:32,159 --> 00:11:34,859 - All of these had been expended, it had been processed 215 00:11:34,895 --> 00:11:37,462 through a handgun or handguns before, 216 00:11:37,497 --> 00:11:39,264 but they no longer had the gunpowder 217 00:11:39,299 --> 00:11:40,331 or the packing in it. 218 00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:42,500 Whenever there's a shooting, the initial thought 219 00:11:42,536 --> 00:11:45,737 is to look for the gun and track what kind of gun it was 220 00:11:45,772 --> 00:11:47,872 that would've fired these bullets. 221 00:11:49,876 --> 00:11:54,345 - They got a consent to search james's car, and inside his car 222 00:11:54,381 --> 00:11:56,781 they found other 9mm shell casings. 223 00:11:58,151 --> 00:11:59,751 - Daniel: Also, when we searched jim's car, 224 00:11:59,786 --> 00:12:03,655 we found a pawn ticket receipt for a 9mm handgun 225 00:12:03,690 --> 00:12:05,924 in jim guevara's name. 226 00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:09,194 This heightened suspicion that he might somehow be involved. 227 00:12:12,766 --> 00:12:15,767 - Narrator: The discovery prompts detectives to invite jim 228 00:12:15,802 --> 00:12:20,438 back to the station for a more detailed interview. 229 00:12:20,474 --> 00:12:22,841 - Daniel: Basically, we started asking more probing questions 230 00:12:22,876 --> 00:12:25,777 once we got down to the homicide office. 231 00:12:25,812 --> 00:12:29,614 I asked if he suspected his wife of having any kind of affair, 232 00:12:29,649 --> 00:12:31,483 and he said he did not. 233 00:12:31,518 --> 00:12:35,553 I asked if he was involved with anyone, and he said he was not. 234 00:12:35,589 --> 00:12:37,889 - Narrator: When detective gonzales confronts him 235 00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,892 about the spent casings found at the scene, 236 00:12:40,927 --> 00:12:43,828 jim explains that he retrieved them while using 237 00:12:43,864 --> 00:12:47,866 a rented 9mm gun at a local shooting range. 238 00:12:47,901 --> 00:12:50,201 - Daniel: He claimed he had picked up these shell casings 239 00:12:50,237 --> 00:12:52,303 that he had fired because his brother-in-law 240 00:12:52,339 --> 00:12:56,574 actually reloaded ammunition and that's why he picked up 241 00:12:56,610 --> 00:12:58,476 the--uh, the shell casings. 242 00:12:58,512 --> 00:13:00,812 He explained that the shell casings in the car 243 00:13:00,847 --> 00:13:02,814 were from that, and the shell casings 244 00:13:02,849 --> 00:13:05,550 in his closet were from that also. 245 00:13:05,585 --> 00:13:08,586 - Narrator: As for the pawn receipt recovered from his car, 246 00:13:08,622 --> 00:13:12,023 jim admits to detectives that he was in the process 247 00:13:12,058 --> 00:13:14,392 of purchasing a gun. 248 00:13:14,427 --> 00:13:17,362 - Bill: The explanation that he gave was that he had 249 00:13:17,397 --> 00:13:19,597 a 9mm gun on layaway, 250 00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:22,333 and he was planning on getting that gun. 251 00:13:22,369 --> 00:13:24,502 - Daniel: Another detective actually called the pawn shop 252 00:13:24,538 --> 00:13:27,639 and confirmed that the gun in question was still physically 253 00:13:27,674 --> 00:13:30,008 at that location at the time. 254 00:13:30,043 --> 00:13:32,544 - Narrator: With a seemingly credible explanation, 255 00:13:32,579 --> 00:13:35,847 police begin to view jim less like a suspect 256 00:13:35,882 --> 00:13:38,683 and more like a grieving husband. 257 00:13:38,718 --> 00:13:41,586 - Daniel: There was really no new red flags at that time. 258 00:13:41,621 --> 00:13:43,588 We told him we'd like to continue speaking with him 259 00:13:43,623 --> 00:13:46,724 and we would stay in touch and if he thought of anything, 260 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,426 to, uh--to call us. 261 00:13:51,431 --> 00:13:52,897 - Narrator: Back at the crime scene, 262 00:13:52,933 --> 00:13:55,867 velia's body is transported to the coroner's office 263 00:13:55,902 --> 00:13:58,837 for an official autopsy. 264 00:13:58,872 --> 00:14:01,439 - The information from the autopsy would help us 265 00:14:01,474 --> 00:14:04,008 focus the investigation a little bit. 266 00:14:04,044 --> 00:14:06,744 - Narrator: Next, officers canvass jim and velia's 267 00:14:06,780 --> 00:14:10,481 apartment building for any possible witnesses. 268 00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:12,750 Speaking with the building's assistant manager, 269 00:14:12,786 --> 00:14:15,920 shelley stelzer, they learn the management office 270 00:14:15,956 --> 00:14:20,992 received some odd anonymous phone calls earlier that day. 271 00:14:21,027 --> 00:14:24,329 - Daniel: She had received one or two phone calls from somebody 272 00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:26,764 claiming that the victim's car lights were on 273 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,566 in the parking lot. 274 00:14:28,602 --> 00:14:31,035 - Shelley: I just thought that was strange, 275 00:14:31,071 --> 00:14:34,739 that someone had left multiple messages about a car 276 00:14:34,774 --> 00:14:37,275 having its lights on in the parking lot, 277 00:14:37,310 --> 00:14:39,744 which is not really something most people 278 00:14:39,779 --> 00:14:43,581 are concerned enough to leave more than one message about. 279 00:14:43,617 --> 00:14:47,585 It seemed kind of puzzling to us in the office, um, 280 00:14:47,621 --> 00:14:49,487 why that was so urgent. 281 00:14:49,522 --> 00:14:52,357 - Narrator: Shelley tells police that when she phoned velia 282 00:14:52,392 --> 00:14:55,860 about the calls, she reached her answering machine. 283 00:14:55,896 --> 00:14:57,996 - A little bit later that morning, 284 00:14:58,031 --> 00:15:01,666 velia came by my office. She was walking her dog. 285 00:15:01,701 --> 00:15:03,368 She said thanks for the message. 286 00:15:03,403 --> 00:15:05,003 She was actually not working that day, 287 00:15:05,038 --> 00:15:07,939 it was some school holiday. 288 00:15:07,974 --> 00:15:10,008 - David: Velia came to the leasing office 289 00:15:10,043 --> 00:15:12,777 and reported to them that she went and checked on her car 290 00:15:12,812 --> 00:15:14,579 and the lights were not on. 291 00:15:14,614 --> 00:15:15,780 And that's the last time they saw her. 292 00:15:15,815 --> 00:15:17,649 She went off walking with her dog. 293 00:15:19,986 --> 00:15:21,486 - Narrator: According to shelley, 294 00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:24,656 when velia left her office around 10 a.M., 295 00:15:24,691 --> 00:15:26,724 everything seemed fine. 296 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,027 - Shelley: She was cheerful, upbeat. 297 00:15:29,062 --> 00:15:31,930 She was always that way when we saw her. 298 00:15:31,965 --> 00:15:34,666 - Daniel: Ms. Stelzer also said that, at about 10 o'clock 299 00:15:34,701 --> 00:15:37,402 that morning, a lady had come in to ask to use 300 00:15:37,437 --> 00:15:38,970 the telephone at the office. 301 00:15:39,005 --> 00:15:42,073 Some woman that she had never seen before. 302 00:15:42,108 --> 00:15:44,142 - Shelley: She seemed kind of startled... 303 00:15:44,177 --> 00:15:46,444 When we asked if we could help her. 304 00:15:46,479 --> 00:15:48,079 - Narrator: After speaking to shelley, 305 00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:52,450 police learn the maintenance man also saw the same woman 306 00:15:52,485 --> 00:15:54,652 on the apartment property. 307 00:15:54,688 --> 00:15:56,554 - She seemed to be kind of watching the building 308 00:15:56,589 --> 00:15:58,389 where velia's apartment was. 309 00:15:59,559 --> 00:16:02,393 - We felt that this woman might somehow be involved. 310 00:16:02,429 --> 00:16:03,928 We needed to find her. 311 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,168 - Narrator: Coming up, could a bitter ex-employee 312 00:16:10,203 --> 00:16:13,004 be responsible for velia's killing? 313 00:16:13,039 --> 00:16:15,840 - Jim gave this explanation that he had been involved 314 00:16:15,875 --> 00:16:17,508 in the firing of somebody, 315 00:16:17,544 --> 00:16:20,011 and that this person had not taken it well. 316 00:16:20,046 --> 00:16:23,014 - Narrator: And investigators uncover a secret life, 317 00:16:23,049 --> 00:16:27,051 built on lies and irresistible temptation. 318 00:16:27,087 --> 00:16:31,923 - They started out as friends, but she had other intentions. 319 00:16:35,628 --> 00:16:39,130 - ♪ 320 00:16:40,933 --> 00:16:43,568 - ♪ 321 00:16:45,338 --> 00:16:47,605 - narrator: In the spring of 1993, 322 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,876 investigator daniel gonzales is determined to find the person 323 00:16:51,911 --> 00:16:54,712 responsible for killing 32-year-old 324 00:16:54,748 --> 00:16:58,282 elementary school teacher velia guevara. 325 00:16:58,318 --> 00:16:59,817 - Daniel: There were some people who saw this woman 326 00:16:59,853 --> 00:17:01,586 at velia's apartment. 327 00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:03,287 It was another piece of the puzzle. 328 00:17:03,323 --> 00:17:05,723 It was just a matter of finding the person 329 00:17:05,759 --> 00:17:08,426 that did this to velia. 330 00:17:08,461 --> 00:17:11,362 - Narrator: His focus now is to try and identify 331 00:17:11,398 --> 00:17:15,166 the mysterious woman seen at velia's apartment complex 332 00:17:15,201 --> 00:17:17,468 on the day of the murder. 333 00:17:17,504 --> 00:17:21,305 - Someone was, uh, prowling the parking lot. 334 00:17:21,341 --> 00:17:25,443 At some point, she went into the lease office 335 00:17:25,478 --> 00:17:27,445 and asked to use a phone, 336 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,714 but she decides she doesn't wanna use their phone 337 00:17:29,749 --> 00:17:30,915 and she leaves. 338 00:17:32,986 --> 00:17:36,287 - Narrator: While the woman's identity remains a mystery, 339 00:17:36,322 --> 00:17:39,791 detectives hope velia's autopsy can shed some light 340 00:17:39,826 --> 00:17:41,826 on her death. 341 00:17:41,861 --> 00:17:44,328 - Bill: She was shot three times in the abdomen area, 342 00:17:44,364 --> 00:17:46,697 and one of those ended up severing her spine-- 343 00:17:46,733 --> 00:17:47,698 spinal column. 344 00:17:47,734 --> 00:17:50,835 - Narrator: A 9mm slug removed from the body 345 00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:53,571 is consistent with the projectiles found 346 00:17:53,606 --> 00:17:55,406 at the crime scene. 347 00:17:55,442 --> 00:17:57,375 - Daniel: When I spoke to one of the investigators, 348 00:17:57,410 --> 00:17:59,744 he estimated the time of death between 9 o'clock 349 00:17:59,779 --> 00:18:01,979 and 11 o'clock in the morning that day. 350 00:18:02,015 --> 00:18:04,816 - Narrator: This information coincides with the time 351 00:18:04,851 --> 00:18:09,520 the unidentified woman was seen at the apartment complex. 352 00:18:09,556 --> 00:18:12,290 - It made us believe we were on the right track, 353 00:18:12,325 --> 00:18:15,226 that somebody had specifically targeted velia. 354 00:18:16,696 --> 00:18:19,430 - Narrator: Digging deeper into velia's background, 355 00:18:19,466 --> 00:18:22,967 detectives reach out to the school where velia worked. 356 00:18:23,002 --> 00:18:26,304 Speaking to the principal, investigators learn 357 00:18:26,339 --> 00:18:30,575 that velia was being harassed prior to her death. 358 00:18:30,610 --> 00:18:32,009 - Daniel: Velia worked at a school. 359 00:18:32,045 --> 00:18:34,679 This person would call and ask for her, 360 00:18:34,714 --> 00:18:36,647 usually hang up when velia got on the phone, 361 00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:38,850 sometimes she would speak with her. 362 00:18:38,885 --> 00:18:40,685 - Bill: It was always a female that was doing this, 363 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:42,887 would say things like, "hello, hello, hello," 364 00:18:42,922 --> 00:18:44,989 pretending that they can't hear when velia's trying 365 00:18:45,024 --> 00:18:46,624 to speak to them. 366 00:18:46,659 --> 00:18:48,626 She was getting these at work often, 367 00:18:48,661 --> 00:18:51,028 so there was this harassment in the background 368 00:18:51,064 --> 00:18:52,897 that was going on. 369 00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:54,499 - Daniel: The principal said she could see that 370 00:18:54,534 --> 00:18:58,269 whatever was said obviously upset velia. 371 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:03,374 - Narrator: To try and determine who may be behind 372 00:19:03,409 --> 00:19:05,042 the disturbing calls, 373 00:19:05,078 --> 00:19:07,845 detectives bring in velia's husband, jim, 374 00:19:07,881 --> 00:19:10,348 for an additional interview. 375 00:19:10,383 --> 00:19:13,551 But as the conversation begins, police are alerted 376 00:19:13,586 --> 00:19:16,888 to a surprising development when yet another caller 377 00:19:16,923 --> 00:19:19,924 comes forward with details on the case. 378 00:19:19,959 --> 00:19:23,060 - Daniel: During the interview, another detective interrupted me 379 00:19:23,096 --> 00:19:24,762 and said there was a phone call for me, 380 00:19:24,797 --> 00:19:26,597 so I went and took the phone call, 381 00:19:26,633 --> 00:19:29,767 and it turned out to be tina timmerman. 382 00:19:29,802 --> 00:19:32,003 - Narrator: Detective gonzales learns the caller 383 00:19:32,038 --> 00:19:34,605 is one of jim's former coworkers 384 00:19:34,641 --> 00:19:38,009 from "the san antonio light" newspaper. 385 00:19:38,044 --> 00:19:40,811 Tina claims to have some important information 386 00:19:40,847 --> 00:19:42,580 for investigators. 387 00:19:43,783 --> 00:19:46,417 - David: She told the police, "you might want to know 388 00:19:46,452 --> 00:19:48,719 "that james guevara, the husband of the woman 389 00:19:48,755 --> 00:19:51,489 "that you found murdered, has been having an affair 390 00:19:51,524 --> 00:19:52,790 "with this woman, minnie salinas, 391 00:19:52,825 --> 00:19:54,025 for the last three years." 392 00:19:57,664 --> 00:20:01,632 - daniel: Tina told me that jim and minnie had been coworkers. 393 00:20:01,668 --> 00:20:04,502 Minnie was a secretary at "the san antonio light," 394 00:20:04,537 --> 00:20:06,671 at the time, and that she noticed that minnie 395 00:20:06,706 --> 00:20:08,973 was flirtatious toward jim. 396 00:20:09,008 --> 00:20:13,344 And that after a while, that jim and minnie had, 397 00:20:13,379 --> 00:20:15,446 you know, become involved. 398 00:20:15,481 --> 00:20:17,448 - Adolfo: Obviously, it was kind of scandalous. 399 00:20:17,483 --> 00:20:19,483 They started out as friends, 400 00:20:19,519 --> 00:20:23,588 but she had other intentions, and he was willing to go along. 401 00:20:23,623 --> 00:20:26,457 - Daniel: So once tina had told us this information, 402 00:20:26,492 --> 00:20:28,159 you know, I went back and continued the interview 403 00:20:28,194 --> 00:20:31,462 with jim and brought these things up and--at which point, 404 00:20:31,497 --> 00:20:32,697 he admitted the affair. 405 00:20:34,934 --> 00:20:38,002 - Bill: He said that he began an affair with minnie salinas 406 00:20:38,037 --> 00:20:41,672 prior to the time that he was married to velia. 407 00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:45,042 And in fact, the first time that jim guevara 408 00:20:45,078 --> 00:20:49,480 and minnie salinas engaged in sexual intercourse 409 00:20:49,515 --> 00:20:53,484 was two or three days before jim and velia were married. 410 00:20:57,924 --> 00:21:00,925 - Narrator: Given this startling new information, 411 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,528 police must consider if jim's mistress could be 412 00:21:04,564 --> 00:21:07,164 behind velia's murder. 413 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,767 - Daniel: Jim was adamant to us that he didn't believe minnie 414 00:21:09,802 --> 00:21:11,035 had killed velia. 415 00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:13,738 When asked who he thought might have been harassing velia 416 00:21:13,773 --> 00:21:17,375 or causing these kind problems, he mentioned eva perez. 417 00:21:18,611 --> 00:21:20,845 - Bill: Jim gave this explanation that he had been 418 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,148 involved in the firing of somebody a few years back 419 00:21:24,183 --> 00:21:26,083 at the newspaper where he was working, 420 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,085 and that this person had not taken it well. 421 00:21:28,121 --> 00:21:30,154 And so, he believed that was the person that was actually 422 00:21:30,189 --> 00:21:32,490 doing this harassment. 423 00:21:32,525 --> 00:21:34,759 - Adolfo: He portrayed eva perez as a troublemaker 424 00:21:34,794 --> 00:21:40,564 that had to go, like she was very angry about him firing her. 425 00:21:43,870 --> 00:21:46,470 - Narrator: Hearing jim's indictment of eva, 426 00:21:46,506 --> 00:21:50,541 police now have two new suspects to consider. 427 00:21:50,576 --> 00:21:53,711 - Eventually, I--I locate eva perez and I interview her, 428 00:21:53,746 --> 00:21:55,613 she was very cooperative. 429 00:21:55,648 --> 00:21:57,448 - Eva: I was like pretty scared, 430 00:21:57,483 --> 00:22:00,951 'cause I was like, you know, like, "what do you mean? 431 00:22:00,987 --> 00:22:02,920 "they think I did it, like 432 00:22:02,955 --> 00:22:05,589 "I haven't even talked to this guy. 433 00:22:05,625 --> 00:22:08,259 I don't even know what he was doing at the time." 434 00:22:08,294 --> 00:22:11,128 - narrator: Eva tells detectives that jim was her boss, 435 00:22:11,164 --> 00:22:14,999 and confesses they had an adverse relationship. 436 00:22:15,034 --> 00:22:16,967 - Eva: He was very hard to work with, 437 00:22:17,003 --> 00:22:22,707 really hostile, very rude, male chauvinist, 438 00:22:22,742 --> 00:22:25,676 just, um, really hard to get along. 439 00:22:25,712 --> 00:22:28,079 - Adolfo: The friction he had with, uh, eva perez, 440 00:22:28,114 --> 00:22:29,513 she believed it was because 441 00:22:29,549 --> 00:22:31,649 she was trying to organize a union. 442 00:22:33,686 --> 00:22:36,754 - Narrator: But eva tells police that when she left her job, 443 00:22:36,789 --> 00:22:40,791 she harbored no ill will to jim or the company. 444 00:22:40,827 --> 00:22:42,693 - There wasn't any disagreement or anything, 445 00:22:42,729 --> 00:22:44,862 I left in good standing. 446 00:22:44,897 --> 00:22:47,098 Didn't ever think anything of it. 447 00:22:47,133 --> 00:22:50,534 - Narrator: Most importantly, eva is able to provide police 448 00:22:50,570 --> 00:22:54,171 with a rock-solid alibi for the day of the murder. 449 00:22:54,207 --> 00:22:57,942 - Eva: I actually was in california, so I had to fly in. 450 00:22:57,977 --> 00:23:00,211 They started to ask me questions about where I was 451 00:23:00,246 --> 00:23:02,747 the day that his wife died, and I'm like, 452 00:23:02,782 --> 00:23:04,915 "I've been in california this whole time. 453 00:23:04,951 --> 00:23:07,017 I've not been in san antonio." 454 00:23:07,053 --> 00:23:10,654 - daniel: She did not seem to me to be holding any kind 455 00:23:10,690 --> 00:23:11,956 of grudge against jim. 456 00:23:11,991 --> 00:23:14,058 Eva had nothing to do with this murder. 457 00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:17,561 - Narrator: With eva cleared, 458 00:23:17,597 --> 00:23:20,297 police decide it's time to take a long look 459 00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:22,833 at the other woman in jim's life, 460 00:23:22,869 --> 00:23:26,203 his mistress, minnie salinas. 461 00:23:29,142 --> 00:23:32,810 Born on December 13, 1963, 462 00:23:32,845 --> 00:23:36,147 minnie bronte salinas grew up in the small town 463 00:23:36,182 --> 00:23:38,849 of sebastian, texas. 464 00:23:38,885 --> 00:23:42,620 - It's just a tiny little, uh, farm community 465 00:23:42,655 --> 00:23:44,355 in the middle of nowhere. 466 00:23:44,390 --> 00:23:47,191 When she was a young woman, she wanted to study 467 00:23:47,226 --> 00:23:49,226 to work with deaf children. 468 00:23:51,264 --> 00:23:53,597 - Narrator: Eventually, minnie decided to take 469 00:23:53,633 --> 00:23:56,867 a different career path, one that landed her at a job 470 00:23:56,903 --> 00:24:00,771 in the circulation department of jim guevara's employer, 471 00:24:00,807 --> 00:24:04,675 "the san antonio light" newspaper. 472 00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:09,146 - She, uh, was an executive secretary at "the light." 473 00:24:09,182 --> 00:24:12,016 so, she had administrative skills. 474 00:24:12,051 --> 00:24:14,718 She was married, they had two kids, 475 00:24:14,754 --> 00:24:17,588 and it looked like she and her husband got along well. 476 00:24:18,791 --> 00:24:21,091 - Narrator: But soon after starting her new job, 477 00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:24,028 minnie's marriage was on the rocks. 478 00:24:24,063 --> 00:24:26,764 - Eva: She was very reserved, very quiet, 479 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:30,267 and then I think she started going through a divorce 480 00:24:30,303 --> 00:24:34,638 and people started seeing the change in her. 481 00:24:34,674 --> 00:24:36,774 - Adolfo: Minnie started dressing more provocatively 482 00:24:36,809 --> 00:24:39,276 at work and flirting with coworkers. 483 00:24:39,312 --> 00:24:42,980 Obviously, that's how she ended up getting involved with james 484 00:24:43,015 --> 00:24:47,918 shortly before he actually married velia. 485 00:24:47,954 --> 00:24:50,054 - Narrator: After the newspaper shut its doors, 486 00:24:50,089 --> 00:24:53,257 minnie found work with a local insurance company. 487 00:24:53,292 --> 00:24:56,393 Despite the new job, minnie still managed 488 00:24:56,429 --> 00:25:00,064 to carry on her romance with jim. 489 00:25:00,099 --> 00:25:01,398 - Minnie was having an affair-- 490 00:25:01,434 --> 00:25:03,934 a long-time affair-- with james guevara, um, 491 00:25:03,970 --> 00:25:05,202 for the last three years. 492 00:25:06,906 --> 00:25:09,139 - Narrator: The information obtained by police 493 00:25:09,175 --> 00:25:12,743 shoots minnie to the top of their suspect list. 494 00:25:12,778 --> 00:25:15,713 Now, they just need to find her. 495 00:25:15,748 --> 00:25:17,214 - They wanted to get answers. 496 00:25:17,250 --> 00:25:19,717 And they thought the best way to do that was 497 00:25:19,752 --> 00:25:21,752 to get minnie on the record. 498 00:25:24,423 --> 00:25:26,790 - Narrator: Coming up, detectives catch up 499 00:25:26,826 --> 00:25:30,027 with jim's combative mistress. 500 00:25:30,062 --> 00:25:31,695 - Daniel: That was like flipping a switch, 501 00:25:31,731 --> 00:25:33,898 her demeanor totally changed. 502 00:25:35,034 --> 00:25:36,967 - Narrator: And a motive for velia's death 503 00:25:37,003 --> 00:25:39,203 comes into focus. 504 00:25:39,238 --> 00:25:41,405 - Adolfo: She says, "you've got 'til June 1 505 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,474 "to tell her and file for divorce, 506 00:25:43,509 --> 00:25:45,309 or I'm out of this relationship." 507 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:51,081 - ♪ 508 00:25:58,224 --> 00:26:00,391 - narrator: San antonio detectives are working 509 00:26:00,426 --> 00:26:04,328 the theory that jim guevara's 29-year-old mistress 510 00:26:04,363 --> 00:26:07,665 minnie salinas may be responsible for the murder 511 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:10,701 of his wife, velia guevara. 512 00:26:10,736 --> 00:26:12,636 - Daniel: We've got the name of his lover, 513 00:26:12,672 --> 00:26:15,205 and we've got the mystery woman at the apartment complex. 514 00:26:15,241 --> 00:26:19,310 The next step would be to see if we can get minnie salinas 515 00:26:19,345 --> 00:26:21,612 identified as that-- that mystery woman. 516 00:26:24,417 --> 00:26:26,750 - Narrator: Police attempt to locate minnie at both 517 00:26:26,786 --> 00:26:30,321 her apartment and the insurance company where she works, 518 00:26:30,356 --> 00:26:32,489 to no avail. 519 00:26:32,525 --> 00:26:35,292 Instead, they speak to her employers to learn 520 00:26:35,328 --> 00:26:39,330 more about her whereabouts on the day of the murder. 521 00:26:39,365 --> 00:26:42,333 - They had a magnetic card system there that, um, 522 00:26:42,368 --> 00:26:44,835 it recorded when she came into the--into the office 523 00:26:44,870 --> 00:26:47,504 and when she left the office. 524 00:26:47,540 --> 00:26:50,941 - The security system said that minnie had arrived to work 525 00:26:50,977 --> 00:26:54,278 at 6:41 on the morning of the murder. 526 00:26:54,313 --> 00:26:56,347 And the next entry into the security system said 527 00:26:56,382 --> 00:26:59,350 she had arrived to work at 10:41. 528 00:26:59,385 --> 00:27:00,417 In that four-hour period, 529 00:27:00,453 --> 00:27:05,656 there was no corresponding exit from the location. 530 00:27:05,691 --> 00:27:09,994 That seemed odd, if you're going to log into a building, 531 00:27:10,029 --> 00:27:11,996 it's gonna log you out when you leave as well. 532 00:27:12,031 --> 00:27:17,368 So, that indicated to me that she had logged in at 6:41 533 00:27:17,403 --> 00:27:19,370 but had never actually entered the building. 534 00:27:19,405 --> 00:27:21,405 And then logged again at 10:41. 535 00:27:23,676 --> 00:27:25,709 - Narrator: Even more intriguing for police 536 00:27:25,745 --> 00:27:27,745 is that the four-hour time gap 537 00:27:27,780 --> 00:27:31,515 aligns with the time of velia's murder. 538 00:27:31,550 --> 00:27:34,718 - That means that minnie salinas had the opportunity 539 00:27:34,754 --> 00:27:36,320 to--to have committed the murder. 540 00:27:36,355 --> 00:27:38,455 She was not at work between the hours 541 00:27:38,491 --> 00:27:39,990 when the murder occurred. 542 00:27:40,026 --> 00:27:42,026 - Narrator: Before leaving minnie's work, 543 00:27:42,061 --> 00:27:45,996 detectives obtain a copy of her employee id photo, 544 00:27:46,032 --> 00:27:50,034 along with picture of five of minnie's female coworkers, 545 00:27:50,069 --> 00:27:54,938 and head to velia's apartment complex on may 28. 546 00:27:56,642 --> 00:27:59,977 - Daniel: Detective rup showed shelley the six photographs 547 00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:03,414 that he had prepared, or that he had picked up. 548 00:28:03,449 --> 00:28:06,884 - He asked me if any of those were the woman who--who had come 549 00:28:06,919 --> 00:28:09,920 in the office and asked to use the phone that day. 550 00:28:09,955 --> 00:28:14,591 And I picked out minnie salinas from the six photos. 551 00:28:16,462 --> 00:28:19,797 - Narrator: With a positive id on minnie, on June 1, 552 00:28:19,832 --> 00:28:23,767 a second attempt by detective gonzales to locate his suspect 553 00:28:23,803 --> 00:28:26,003 finally pays off. 554 00:28:26,038 --> 00:28:27,604 - I went to her workplace. 555 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,339 I asked if she would be willing to come down 556 00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:30,574 and speak with me and she agreed. 557 00:28:33,012 --> 00:28:36,847 Once I began interviewing her, she readily admitted the affair. 558 00:28:36,882 --> 00:28:41,385 She said that she had given jim an ultimatum, by June 1, 559 00:28:41,420 --> 00:28:43,587 to decide about their relationship-- 560 00:28:43,622 --> 00:28:45,789 whether jim wanted to be with her or whether he wanted 561 00:28:45,825 --> 00:28:46,990 to be with velia. 562 00:28:49,762 --> 00:28:54,465 - Narrator: Minnie denies ever making any threats to velia. 563 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,367 As for her whereabouts on the day of the shooting, 564 00:28:57,403 --> 00:29:00,137 minnie has an answer for that too. 565 00:29:00,172 --> 00:29:02,473 - She said she was at the doctor's office 566 00:29:02,508 --> 00:29:05,342 at the time this was committed. 567 00:29:05,377 --> 00:29:07,377 - Bill: Which would've been consistent with the fact that 568 00:29:07,413 --> 00:29:09,813 she only put the card in at her workplace 569 00:29:09,849 --> 00:29:12,549 for entry purposes and then decided to turn around, 570 00:29:12,585 --> 00:29:13,984 it's 'cause she felt bad, 571 00:29:14,019 --> 00:29:16,587 even though she went into work a few hours later. 572 00:29:17,757 --> 00:29:20,157 - Narrator: Minnie even offers up a printed record 573 00:29:20,192 --> 00:29:23,527 of her time at the doctor's office. 574 00:29:23,562 --> 00:29:26,864 - It shows, you know, at, uh, may 26 at, you know, 575 00:29:26,899 --> 00:29:29,133 9:30 or 10 o'clock in the morning 576 00:29:29,168 --> 00:29:32,836 when, uh, we all believe, and the evidence shows that, uh, 577 00:29:32,872 --> 00:29:35,472 velia was murdered in her apartment, 578 00:29:35,508 --> 00:29:38,542 that minnie salinas was at a doctor's appointment. 579 00:29:38,577 --> 00:29:40,444 - Narrator: Despite the fact that minnie attempts 580 00:29:40,479 --> 00:29:43,680 to provide an alibi, detectives confront her 581 00:29:43,716 --> 00:29:46,183 with the fact that she was spotted by a witness 582 00:29:46,218 --> 00:29:50,854 at the crime scene within hours of the murder. 583 00:29:50,890 --> 00:29:52,156 - Daniel: That was like flipping a switch. 584 00:29:52,191 --> 00:29:55,626 Her demeanor totally changed, she, uh-- 585 00:29:55,661 --> 00:29:58,862 she got very belligerent, very angry, basically denied 586 00:29:58,898 --> 00:30:02,900 that she was seen there, started cussing me out. 587 00:30:02,935 --> 00:30:04,768 - At that point she storms out of the interview, 588 00:30:04,804 --> 00:30:06,036 'cause she's free to go at that point, 589 00:30:06,071 --> 00:30:07,905 she's not under arrest. 590 00:30:10,476 --> 00:30:12,476 - Narrator: With minnie currently free, 591 00:30:12,511 --> 00:30:15,913 police work to solidify their case against her. 592 00:30:16,849 --> 00:30:18,115 - Daniel: We found one of minnie's friends, 593 00:30:18,150 --> 00:30:20,851 a young lady by the name of perla velazquez. 594 00:30:20,886 --> 00:30:24,021 I spoke with perla and learned that minnie salinas 595 00:30:24,056 --> 00:30:26,657 had contacted her the night of the murder. 596 00:30:26,692 --> 00:30:31,061 Perla said minnie appeared very nervous and very upset. 597 00:30:31,096 --> 00:30:34,565 She'd come over to perla's apartment, the news was on. 598 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,935 Minnie said that, uh, police suspected it was a burglary, 599 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:41,572 and, uh, minnie also told perla that it had happened 600 00:30:41,607 --> 00:30:43,073 about 10 o'clock in the morning. 601 00:30:43,108 --> 00:30:46,677 This is significant because the autopsy revealed 602 00:30:46,712 --> 00:30:50,614 that that was probably the time the murder occurred, 603 00:30:50,649 --> 00:30:52,883 but that was not public knowledge. 604 00:30:52,918 --> 00:30:54,718 We didn't release that to the media. 605 00:30:56,755 --> 00:31:00,224 She also told perla that she had to get rid of jim's gun, 606 00:31:00,259 --> 00:31:03,694 so she admitted to perla that jim had a gun. 607 00:31:03,729 --> 00:31:07,998 In fact, I think she said that she had to get rid of jim's 9mm. 608 00:31:08,033 --> 00:31:10,767 - Narrator: The call from perla directly contradicts 609 00:31:10,803 --> 00:31:13,770 jim guevara's statement that he didn't yet own 610 00:31:13,806 --> 00:31:16,139 a 9mm handgun. 611 00:31:17,209 --> 00:31:20,043 A forensic analysis of shell casings recovered 612 00:31:20,079 --> 00:31:23,046 from the crime scene adds further suspicion 613 00:31:23,082 --> 00:31:24,915 to jim's story. 614 00:31:24,950 --> 00:31:28,552 - The...Two of the three shell casings found in jim's car 615 00:31:28,587 --> 00:31:30,621 matched the shell casing that we believe was 616 00:31:30,656 --> 00:31:31,989 from the murder weapon. 617 00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:36,960 - Narrator: When detectives analyze the medical note 618 00:31:36,996 --> 00:31:40,631 that shows minnie at the doctor on the morning of the murder, 619 00:31:40,666 --> 00:31:43,767 they make another shocking discovery. 620 00:31:43,802 --> 00:31:45,535 - You got a nurse who can tell us, 621 00:31:45,571 --> 00:31:47,137 "these are doctored records. 622 00:31:47,172 --> 00:31:50,641 These look like they've been, in some way, changed." 623 00:31:50,676 --> 00:31:52,876 and the date and the time had been changed. 624 00:31:55,214 --> 00:31:58,048 - Narrator: Investigators now believe jim and minnie 625 00:31:58,083 --> 00:32:01,952 had been planning velia's murder for some time. 626 00:32:01,987 --> 00:32:04,955 - Daniel: I think they both had the same ultimate goal, 627 00:32:04,990 --> 00:32:07,257 was that jim and minnie wanted to be together, 628 00:32:07,293 --> 00:32:10,827 and I think velia stood in the way of them being together. 629 00:32:10,863 --> 00:32:11,929 - Melisa: There are lot of reasons 630 00:32:11,964 --> 00:32:13,697 why spouses stay with each other. 631 00:32:13,732 --> 00:32:16,199 A lot of times it's religious. 632 00:32:16,235 --> 00:32:18,168 Having been raised very strictly catholic, 633 00:32:18,203 --> 00:32:19,336 we don't get divorces. 634 00:32:19,371 --> 00:32:21,571 That's the way we believe. 635 00:32:21,607 --> 00:32:24,541 So, in velia's case, it's very possible that it had 636 00:32:24,576 --> 00:32:27,244 everything to do with the way we were raised. 637 00:32:29,715 --> 00:32:31,648 - Narrator: Detectives believe that jim set up 638 00:32:31,684 --> 00:32:34,117 his golf game on the day of the murder 639 00:32:34,153 --> 00:32:36,987 so that he would have a solid alibi 640 00:32:37,022 --> 00:32:40,357 while minnie went to their apartment complex. 641 00:32:40,392 --> 00:32:42,793 - While james was at the golf course, 642 00:32:42,828 --> 00:32:44,628 there were several calls that came in 643 00:32:44,663 --> 00:32:48,065 to the apartment complex indicating that the lady 644 00:32:48,100 --> 00:32:51,568 in velia's apartment had left her lights on her vehicle. 645 00:32:51,603 --> 00:32:53,770 Velia left the apartment door unlocked. 646 00:32:53,806 --> 00:32:55,906 And while she went down to check on her lights 647 00:32:55,941 --> 00:32:58,108 that were not on, 648 00:32:58,143 --> 00:33:00,711 then minnie salinas snuck into the apartment 649 00:33:00,746 --> 00:33:02,646 and waited for her to return. 650 00:33:04,650 --> 00:33:08,185 Upon velia's return, she murdered her. 651 00:33:09,421 --> 00:33:10,754 - [gunshot] 652 00:33:16,195 --> 00:33:19,863 - bill: The working theory was that james came into the house, 653 00:33:19,898 --> 00:33:23,066 saw two cartridge casings laying on the floor, 654 00:33:23,102 --> 00:33:25,769 which he picked up and took to his car and dropped off, 655 00:33:25,804 --> 00:33:29,840 and missed the one sitting on the couch. 656 00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:34,411 - Everything about the investigation pointed to... 657 00:33:34,446 --> 00:33:37,981 James guevara and minnie salinas as being the, uh, 658 00:33:38,017 --> 00:33:40,017 perpetrators of this crime. 659 00:33:40,052 --> 00:33:41,985 It was decided we would just walk the warrant 660 00:33:42,021 --> 00:33:44,187 on minnie salinas since jim obviously 661 00:33:44,223 --> 00:33:45,422 didn't pull the trigger. 662 00:33:45,457 --> 00:33:48,892 He might have knowledge of it, he might be involved in it, 663 00:33:48,927 --> 00:33:52,729 but I think the da's office at the time was not confident 664 00:33:52,765 --> 00:33:56,333 that they could proceed with a case against jim at that time. 665 00:33:58,303 --> 00:34:01,104 - Narrator: On August 30, 1993, 666 00:34:01,140 --> 00:34:04,341 minnie is arrested at work. 667 00:34:04,376 --> 00:34:07,177 - She was basically silent, cold as ice, 668 00:34:07,212 --> 00:34:11,281 uh, she wouldn't answer any questions. 669 00:34:11,316 --> 00:34:13,784 - Narrator: Minnie's reluctance to cooperate puts 670 00:34:13,819 --> 00:34:17,788 the heavily circumstantial case in jeopardy. 671 00:34:17,823 --> 00:34:20,424 - The da's office dismissed the case. 672 00:34:20,459 --> 00:34:22,759 I didn't agree with it, I thought that, uh, 673 00:34:22,795 --> 00:34:25,295 it was a good case, I just thought that the, uh-- 674 00:34:25,330 --> 00:34:26,797 the da's office at the time 675 00:34:26,832 --> 00:34:29,966 just didn't want to try a tough case. 676 00:34:30,002 --> 00:34:33,470 - Daniel, he shelves the case, but he doesn't close it out, 677 00:34:33,505 --> 00:34:35,772 he leaves it as an open case, and he waits, 678 00:34:35,808 --> 00:34:38,041 he just bides his time. 679 00:34:38,077 --> 00:34:41,178 - Daniel: I felt we had the right people from the start. 680 00:34:41,213 --> 00:34:45,182 We just needed somebody with the will and the political 681 00:34:45,217 --> 00:34:48,385 backbone to--uh, to take a tough case to trial. 682 00:34:49,955 --> 00:34:52,289 - Narrator: Coming up, a shocking development 683 00:34:52,324 --> 00:34:55,692 resurrects a long cold case. 684 00:34:55,727 --> 00:34:58,328 - It was important in connecting them up and showing 685 00:34:58,363 --> 00:35:02,365 that there was this plan, and this conspiracy. 686 00:35:02,401 --> 00:35:05,068 - Narrator: And an unprecedented decision in court 687 00:35:05,104 --> 00:35:06,870 stirs things up. 688 00:35:06,905 --> 00:35:08,171 - She requested to the judge 689 00:35:08,207 --> 00:35:10,240 if she could go pray on the matter. 690 00:35:10,275 --> 00:35:13,343 - I've been prosecuting for 25 years, 691 00:35:13,378 --> 00:35:15,212 but this is a first. 692 00:35:17,449 --> 00:35:20,450 - ♪ 693 00:35:27,593 --> 00:35:30,293 - narrator: In the fall of 1993, 694 00:35:30,329 --> 00:35:33,363 the case against 29-year-old minnie salinas 695 00:35:33,398 --> 00:35:37,534 for the murder of san antonio school teacher velia guevara 696 00:35:37,569 --> 00:35:40,370 has just been dismissed. 697 00:35:40,405 --> 00:35:41,671 - Daniel: After the case got dismissed 698 00:35:41,707 --> 00:35:43,473 by the district attorney's office, 699 00:35:43,509 --> 00:35:44,841 I was still in the homicide unit. 700 00:35:44,877 --> 00:35:47,310 So, I--I kind of worked around the periphery. 701 00:35:47,346 --> 00:35:49,713 I would make phone calls to the family members 702 00:35:49,748 --> 00:35:52,282 and people who had knowledge about the murder 703 00:35:52,317 --> 00:35:55,952 to see if any new information was received over the years. 704 00:35:59,391 --> 00:36:02,425 - Narrator: In 1995, an important detail 705 00:36:02,461 --> 00:36:04,995 related to the investigation is exposed 706 00:36:05,030 --> 00:36:08,532 in a seemingly unrelated court case involving jim 707 00:36:08,567 --> 00:36:10,867 and velia's family. 708 00:36:10,903 --> 00:36:15,572 - Time goes by, and james makes a claim to the insurance company 709 00:36:15,607 --> 00:36:18,008 for velia's insurance policy. 710 00:36:18,043 --> 00:36:19,709 - Adolfo: He was trying to claim 711 00:36:19,745 --> 00:36:22,445 the teacher retirement fund as the spouse-- 712 00:36:22,481 --> 00:36:24,981 the surviving spouse, um-- 713 00:36:25,017 --> 00:36:27,784 and, um, velia's parents weren't having it. 714 00:36:27,819 --> 00:36:29,419 So, they got an attorney 715 00:36:29,454 --> 00:36:31,888 and they brought suit against him. 716 00:36:31,924 --> 00:36:34,491 - Velia's family fought james guevara 717 00:36:34,526 --> 00:36:38,495 over the life insurance-- the teacher's life benefits, 718 00:36:38,530 --> 00:36:41,731 - adolfo: It was a modest amount of money, it was $50,000. 719 00:36:41,767 --> 00:36:46,736 They settled the suit, and, uh, the parents get 25 grand, 720 00:36:46,772 --> 00:36:48,638 he gets 25 grand. 721 00:36:50,008 --> 00:36:52,909 - Narrator: While the settlement brings an end to the lawsuit, 722 00:36:52,945 --> 00:36:56,613 something said during jim's deposition reignites 723 00:36:56,648 --> 00:37:00,350 the case against him and his alleged lover. 724 00:37:00,385 --> 00:37:04,854 - As part of that suit, james was given a deposition 725 00:37:04,890 --> 00:37:07,924 where their attorney was able to ask him questions. 726 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,860 And part of those questions included, uh, 727 00:37:10,896 --> 00:37:13,063 "have you talked to minnie salinas?" 728 00:37:13,098 --> 00:37:15,565 you know, "when's the last time you talked to her?" 729 00:37:15,601 --> 00:37:18,602 - he indicated that he had not seen minnie salinas for years. 730 00:37:18,637 --> 00:37:21,805 He didn't know where she was. He had no contact with her. 731 00:37:24,643 --> 00:37:25,976 - Bill: Once the settlement occurs, which I believe 732 00:37:26,011 --> 00:37:30,614 was on June 21, 1995, 733 00:37:30,649 --> 00:37:35,085 so james gets his check cut from that settlement. 734 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:38,788 - Ten days after the settlement of that lawsuit, uh, 735 00:37:38,824 --> 00:37:43,526 danny gonzales discovered that james guevara and minnie salinas 736 00:37:43,562 --> 00:37:47,497 were married in las vegas, nevada. 737 00:37:47,532 --> 00:37:50,634 - And I think, at the time, uh, when he married her, 738 00:37:50,669 --> 00:37:53,436 she was seven months pregnant with his child. 739 00:37:53,472 --> 00:37:57,040 So, now the state knows that he has lied in a deposition 740 00:37:57,075 --> 00:38:00,644 about even being in contact with minnie salinas. 741 00:38:00,679 --> 00:38:04,414 It was the piece that the state needed in order to go forward 742 00:38:04,449 --> 00:38:05,982 on the case. 743 00:38:06,018 --> 00:38:09,019 - Daniel: It just seems to tie everything together 744 00:38:09,054 --> 00:38:13,957 that the motive for this--this murder was about what-- 745 00:38:13,992 --> 00:38:16,493 jim wanted to be with minnie. 746 00:38:18,964 --> 00:38:21,498 - Narrator: Armed with this new information, 747 00:38:21,533 --> 00:38:24,134 detective gonzales is given a second chance 748 00:38:24,169 --> 00:38:25,702 at finding justice 749 00:38:25,737 --> 00:38:30,373 after a new da is sworn in in 1999. 750 00:38:30,409 --> 00:38:34,411 - I took the case over again to the new district attorney, 751 00:38:34,446 --> 00:38:37,013 basically with no new information. 752 00:38:37,049 --> 00:38:40,917 What I had filed in '93 was pretty much the same 753 00:38:40,952 --> 00:38:42,986 as what I had filed in '99. 754 00:38:43,021 --> 00:38:44,621 - Bill: We kinda talked about the case, and everybody 755 00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:46,022 kind of looked at each other wondering, 756 00:38:46,058 --> 00:38:48,692 "why didn't we file on james guevara? 757 00:38:48,727 --> 00:38:51,461 "he seems just as guilty because it looks like 758 00:38:51,496 --> 00:38:53,463 they got together and did it." 759 00:38:53,498 --> 00:38:57,133 - this boosted the case forward towards a grand jury indictment, 760 00:38:57,169 --> 00:38:59,035 and they were formally charged. 761 00:39:00,672 --> 00:39:02,872 - Narrator: In February of 2000, 762 00:39:02,908 --> 00:39:06,042 nearly 7 years after velia's murder, 763 00:39:06,078 --> 00:39:09,045 jim's lawyers do their best to defend a client 764 00:39:09,081 --> 00:39:11,748 that cheated on his spouse. 765 00:39:11,783 --> 00:39:13,683 - I went through a lot of-- of points as far as 766 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:16,019 what the evidence was, but my--my biggest issue, 767 00:39:16,054 --> 00:39:18,188 I still remember is like, "yeah, the guy's a son of a bitch, 768 00:39:18,223 --> 00:39:20,457 but that doesn't mean he killed anybody." 769 00:39:20,492 --> 00:39:22,192 - david: The defense attorney basically told the jury 770 00:39:22,227 --> 00:39:24,494 that, "there needs to be more proof than this." 771 00:39:24,529 --> 00:39:27,897 and, uh, thankfully the jury found him guilty in short order. 772 00:39:30,235 --> 00:39:33,570 - Narrator: With jim's trial over, prosecutors move 773 00:39:33,605 --> 00:39:37,073 to try minnie in July of 2000. 774 00:39:37,109 --> 00:39:40,877 - Minnie's case was different, because our theory was that 775 00:39:40,912 --> 00:39:43,813 minnie was the shooter, and james was a participant. 776 00:39:43,849 --> 00:39:46,983 So now, the focus is just on minnie. 777 00:39:47,018 --> 00:39:50,487 But the same evidence is used. 778 00:39:50,522 --> 00:39:52,922 - David: Shelley, the assistant manager, 779 00:39:52,958 --> 00:39:56,726 was crucial as far as being able to id minnie salinas 780 00:39:56,762 --> 00:39:59,062 as being at the location, because that's the closest thing 781 00:39:59,097 --> 00:40:01,931 to direct evidence that you have. 782 00:40:01,967 --> 00:40:03,767 - Narrator: But minnie's attorney argues 783 00:40:03,802 --> 00:40:06,703 his client's guilt cannot be based solely 784 00:40:06,738 --> 00:40:08,772 on this one witness. 785 00:40:08,807 --> 00:40:11,775 - There was nothing to put minnie at the scene 786 00:40:11,810 --> 00:40:15,645 except these very obscure identification issues. 787 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:20,150 There were no prints, there were no firearms, uh, recovered. 788 00:40:20,185 --> 00:40:23,219 So, there was really no forensic evidence to tie minnie 789 00:40:23,255 --> 00:40:25,922 to this offense at all. 790 00:40:25,957 --> 00:40:29,259 - Narrator: Following seven days of compelling testimony, 791 00:40:29,294 --> 00:40:31,961 the jury begins deliberations. 792 00:40:31,997 --> 00:40:35,498 But after 16 hours, they are unable to reach 793 00:40:35,534 --> 00:40:38,067 a unanimous verdict. 794 00:40:38,103 --> 00:40:39,736 - It ended in a mistrial, 795 00:40:39,771 --> 00:40:42,839 it--it was like-- there were two hold-outs. 796 00:40:42,874 --> 00:40:46,276 - Bobby: There were clearly people who sided with minnie 797 00:40:46,311 --> 00:40:49,779 and who were not afraid to show they did not believe 798 00:40:49,815 --> 00:40:52,015 minnie committed this offense. 799 00:40:54,886 --> 00:40:57,787 - Adolfo: So, they dismissed the jury, and... 800 00:40:57,823 --> 00:41:01,825 I believe in March of the next year, 2001, 801 00:41:01,860 --> 00:41:03,860 she went to trial again. 802 00:41:05,330 --> 00:41:07,163 - Narrator: When it's time for the new jurors 803 00:41:07,199 --> 00:41:10,266 to begin deliberations, the trial once again 804 00:41:10,302 --> 00:41:13,036 takes a surprising turn. 805 00:41:13,071 --> 00:41:15,572 - I believe it was a female juror, uh, 806 00:41:15,607 --> 00:41:21,211 was struggling with, you know, some very heavy, uh, decisions 807 00:41:21,246 --> 00:41:25,181 regarding the guilt or innocence of minnie salinas, 808 00:41:25,217 --> 00:41:27,750 and she requested to the judge if she could go pray 809 00:41:27,786 --> 00:41:29,819 on the matter at the san fernando cathedral, 810 00:41:29,855 --> 00:41:32,655 which is right across from the courthouse. 811 00:41:32,691 --> 00:41:35,859 - Bill: I've been prosecuting for 25 years, 812 00:41:35,894 --> 00:41:37,160 but this is a first, 813 00:41:37,195 --> 00:41:40,029 and it's the only time it's ever happened. 814 00:41:40,065 --> 00:41:41,998 - David: They did go there, and they were there 815 00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:44,701 I'd say 30 minutes and they came back 816 00:41:44,736 --> 00:41:47,337 and probably after another 30 minutes, uh, sent a note 817 00:41:47,372 --> 00:41:49,005 with the bailiff back to the court saying, 818 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:50,607 "we have a verdict." 819 00:41:50,642 --> 00:41:52,342 - narrator: Prosecutors now wonder, 820 00:41:52,377 --> 00:41:56,212 will divine intervention ultimately decide the verdict 821 00:41:56,248 --> 00:41:59,215 in the murder of this woman of faith? 822 00:41:59,251 --> 00:42:02,352 - She was found guilty of murder and the jury sentenced her 823 00:42:02,387 --> 00:42:04,354 to 50 years for that murder. 824 00:42:05,824 --> 00:42:09,959 - Daniel: 50 years is a long time to be in prison. 825 00:42:09,995 --> 00:42:12,729 I think it's a just sentence. 826 00:42:12,764 --> 00:42:16,099 - Bobby: The tragedy of this case is, of course, velia. 827 00:42:16,134 --> 00:42:18,368 She is sleeping with the devil, 828 00:42:18,403 --> 00:42:22,639 and--and the devil has a mistress. 829 00:42:22,674 --> 00:42:27,076 - Adolfo: These two people had sociopathic tendencies. 830 00:42:27,112 --> 00:42:29,245 They only cared about what they could do for each other 831 00:42:29,281 --> 00:42:31,681 and be--be damned the rest of the world. 832 00:42:35,420 --> 00:42:38,388 - Narrator: Though the end of the trial brings relief, 833 00:42:38,423 --> 00:42:43,059 the pain of losing velia never fades. 834 00:42:43,094 --> 00:42:47,230 - Velia was a very sweet, 835 00:42:47,265 --> 00:42:50,133 gentle, beautiful soul 836 00:42:50,168 --> 00:42:52,969 who didn't deserve what she got. 837 00:42:53,004 --> 00:42:55,738 - Silvia: All of the children that she should've taught 838 00:42:55,774 --> 00:42:57,307 missed out on a great teacher. 839 00:42:57,342 --> 00:43:00,677 All the friends that she had miss her very much. 840 00:43:00,712 --> 00:43:03,313 And her family... I can't imagine. 841 00:43:06,384 --> 00:43:18,394 - ♪ 842 00:43:23,868 --> 00:43:25,368 ♪♪